Automatic mark clearing device



Oct. 15, 1946. E. F. WESELY 2,409,232

- AUTOMATIC MARK CLEARING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1945 v Patented Oct. 15,1946 UNITED STATES PATENT.OFFICE AUTOMATIC MARK CLEARING DEVICE EdwinFrancis Wesely, Chevy Chase, Md. Application December 6, 1943, SerialNo. 513,115

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an automatic clearing device for a machinesuch as a numbering machine or a device for printing or otherwiseapplying identifying marks on materials. More specifically the inventionaims to coordinate the operation of two machines so that when onemachine is manually actuated to carry out a function the other machinealso operates to carry out a specific function in synchronism.

While this invention is applicable to many different types of machinesand devices for various uses, it is particularly adapted for and isdescribed in its application to a listing machine and a numbering ormarking machine for laundries. As is well known, present up-to-datelaundries list and number all the articles of a customer which are to belaundered and a specific identifying number or mark is assigned to eachcustomer, this number being stamped on each piece of laundry by means ofa visible ink or an invisible ink which is only visible under certainlight or electric rays such as a fluorescent lamp and is not destroyedduring the process of cleaning. This work is carried out with the aid oftwo machines, one of which lists the articles and the total number ofeach and the other stamps or prints the assigned customers number oneach article. When all the articles have been entered in the listingmachineand the numbers applied to the articles, the operator prints orrecords the listing on a work sheet together with the customers assignednumber. This operation locks the listing machine which is independentlycleared and is then ready for the listing of a new batch of articles. Atthis point it some times happens that an operator forgets to clear orchange the numbering machine to the next customers assigned number sothat when this next batch of articles is listed and numbered, the wrongnumber will be assigned and printed on the articles and the work sheet.In order to avoid such a mistake the present invention contemplates theclearing or blanking of the numbering machine automatically andsimultaneously upon the operation of the listing machine when the latterprints the items on the work sheet.

It is therefore an object of the invention to interconnect the listingand numbering machines in such a way that upon the operation of thelisting machine to print the items set up therein, the numbering machinewill be automatically cleared or blanked. It is a further object of theinvention to provide a pneumatic or fluid pressure system which operatesa blanking or clearing member on the numbering machine upon operation ofa valve which is tripped by and upon operation of the listing machine.Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a U-shapedmember which is provided in an inverted position over the numberingmachine to contact the numbersetting knobs in its sweep over the machineto bring all the number printing wheels to the blank positions.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the invention applied to thelisting and numbering machines;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofv the numbering machine;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve showing also a pairof tubes connected thereto in side elevation and a side of the listingmachine, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a piston and cylinder of the numberingmachine.

Only a number of the details of the listing machine 5 and the numberingmachineS have been illustrated on the drawing since any suitable typesof machines may be used and such machines per se do not form an part ofthis invention. For instance, a listing machine of the type shown inPatent No. 1,695,964, issued December 18, 1928, and No. 1,103,063,issued July 14, 1914, and a numbering machine shown in Patent No. 858,19, issued July 2, 1907, and No. 1,556,168, issued October 6, 1925, maybe used.

The listing machine 5 is provided with the usual flat-bed platen 1having an operating handle 8 and to this platen there is secured aright-angle actuating member 9.

The numbering machine 6 is provided with the usual number setting knobsor projecting fingers I0 which travel in slots II in the curved coverE2. The U-shaped clearing member l3 extends over the machine and ispivoted on a shaft or stub shafts I4 which are suitably secured near thebottom of the machine. A cylinder I5 is provided with a pin 16 and thiscylinder is pivoted to the side of the numbering machine by means ofthis pin. A piston rod [1 projects from the cylinder [5 and has a pistonat its inner end and an eyelet [8 at the outer end. The rod I1 ispivotally connected to the arm I9 of the member l3 at 20. A spring clip2| is secured at the upper part of one or both sides of the machine andthis clip is adapted to retain the clearing member IS in its upright ornon-operating position.

A valve 22 of any suitable construction is supported by its connectingtubes or may be secured to the listing machine 5 in any suitable mannerand this valve is provided with an actuating stem 23 which lattercooperates with the actuating or trip member 9. A tube 24 leads from asource of fluid pressure (not shown) to the valve and a section offlexible tubing 25 connects the valve with the cylinder [5.

Th system may be operated as follows:

The operator starts on a bundle or quantity of clothes and linen to belaundered and first sets the numbering machine 6 by adjusting the fingers l corresponding to the number assigned to the particular customer.The number set up in the machine 6 is stamped on the work sheet and thelatter is next placed on the platen i. The individual pieces of laundrythen are each listed on the listing machine and numbered on the machine6 and after all the pieces have been so listed and numbered, theoperator lifts the handle 8 which will print the listings and number ofpieces set up in the machine 5 simultaneously operating the valve 22 topermit air under pressure to enter the cylinder l5 which will swing themember l3 to the right, Fig. 2. This sweep of the member I3 over the topof the casing of the machine 6 will result in the member I3 striking andcarrying with it all the fingers It! to move or rotate the numbers toblank or non-print positions, as shown in the foregoing patents, therebyclearing the machine 6. When the machine 6 is blanked, the operatingparts are in the dotted line position, Fig. 2, and the member 13 willremain in this position until moved back up by the operator. It is ofcourse obvious that a spring may be provided of which one end is securedto the member l3 and the other to the machine to automatically returnthe member l3 to the vertical position to be retained in such positionby the clip 2i. It is also obvious that the listing machine 5 and thenumbering machine 6 are provided with the usual numeral printing wheels,or type plates and inking devices as, for instance, shown in theforegoing patents.

The valve, Fig. 3, is provided with a member 26 which slides on theinside of the valve 22, when the valve stem 23' is actuated, to therebyclose a port 21 therein when the clearing device I3 is operated and toopen the port 21 upon completion of the clearing action to permit escapeof air from the cylinder 15. This will allow for an easy and quickreturn of the clearing member to the position of Fig. 2. It is of courseobvious that a spring for the valve stem 23 must be strong enough toovercome the air pressure in the tube 24 so that the valve stem mayreturn to seat the valve after the clearing operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. A listing and marking machine particularly for laundries comprising alisting device adapted to print a list of laundry items and having anoperating handle to actuate means to print the items which have been setup in the device, a numbering device adapted to print identifyingnumbers on the laundry listed in the listing device and having a memberwhich when operated will clear the number set up in the numberingdevice, a fluid pressure system connected to both devices including avalve operated by the operating handle of the listing device and apiston and cylinder secured to the numbering device with the pistonconnected to the clearing member thereof, and means operative when theoperating handle is actuated to actuate the valve and thereby cause thefluid pressure to move the piston and thereby operate the clearingmember to clear the numbering device when the listing device prints thelist of items.

2. A listing and marking machine particularly for laundries comprising alisting device adapted to print a list of laundry items and having anoperating handle to actuate means to print the items which have been setup in the device, a numbering device adapted to print identifyingnumbers on the laundry listed in the listing device and having a memberwhich when operated will clear the number set up in the numberingdevice, and a fluid pressure system connected to both devices includinga valve operated by the operating handle of the listing device and apiston and cylinder secured to the numbering device with the pistonconnected to the clearing member thereof, said system being operativewhen the operating handle is actuated to actuate the valve and therebythe piston acts on the clearing member to clear the numbering devicewhen the listing device prints the list of items.

EDWIN FRANCIS WESELY.

